Online surge hits stores
TOWNSVILLE’S love affair with online shopping is having a negative impact on local businesses.
The 2018 Inside Australian Online Shopping Report provided a snapshot Australia’s online shopping trends over the last year and revealed Townsville’s use of online shopping is up 15.9 per cent.
The data from Australia Post revealed women’s fashion, adventure, camping and sporting goods were the most sought- after for Townsville residents, with shopping rates of fashion up 29.5 per cent, variety stores up 23.4 per cent and hobby and recreational goods up 12.3 per cent.
Townsville Chamber of Commerce president Debbie Rains said residents should consider their next online purchase and choose to shop lo- cally to save jobs and provide more choice close to home.
“From the chamber’s perspective, we were not aware or it hadn’t been brought to our attention that there had been such a considerable jump,” she said. “We know businesses here have been doing it tough and the way to help businesses is to shop locally. Unfortunately by the sounds of those statistics that message isn’t getting through. We’re already seeing lots of vacancies in our CBD and shopping centres, so we’re going to lose more opportunities to shop if retailers close because they’re not being supported.”
Ms Rains said Townsville retailers could use the online boom to their advantage.
“On the flip side, businesses need to not be complacent and think people are just going to walk in their doors,” she said.
“They have to actively re- main relevant, reinvent themselves, provide that exceptional customer service and embrace that new technology and new innovation to bridge that gap between brick and mortar and click and collect.” The report shows Queensland leads the country in online shopping growth.
Queensland experienced the highest growth in online purchases at 21.8 per cent, with regional areas dominating the top five most prolific online shoppers in the state last year.
Australia Post general manager Parcel and Express Services Ben Franzi said people chose online shopping for price, range and convenience.
“Online shopping gives people access to retailers all over Australia and beyond, and the choice to shop at a time that suits their needs,” Mr Franzi.